Your senior may have so many different marks she’s trying to hit. Eating the right foods, getting just enough movement in, and drinking the right amount of water. These ideas can help her to get her water intake adjusted so that she is getting plenty of water without feeling as if she’s forcing herself to do so. Lining up help from elder care providers and her doctor can help, too.
Don’t Rely on Thirst
Aging adults may not have the same thirst response that they had when they were younger. That can mean that your elderly family member needs water, but her body isn’t giving her signs that she recognizes that it’s time to drink up. What this means for you and for elder care professionals helping her is that thirst isn’t going to be a factor in your plan to keep her hydrated, especially if she never feels thirsty.
Incorporate Foods with a Higher Water Content
There are lots of “rules” floating around about how much water to drink, but the truth is that water intake needs vary from person to person. If your senior is a lot more active, she is going to need more water than someone who is sedentary. Likewise, if your elderly family member eats a lot of foods that are high in water content, she may not need to drink as much water. Incorporating fruits and vegetables or brothy soups that are low in sodium into your senior’s diet can be a great way to help her stay hydrated. This trick is especially helpful if your senior hates drinking water.
Keep Water in Easy Reach
The more accessible water is, the more likely it will be that your senior is able to partake of it. Refillable water bottles that keep water cool for longer periods of time might be a good option. Elder care providers can help to ensure that water is easy for your senior to reach out and grab, no matter what she’s doing.
Try Water Enhancers
Some people just really dislike the taste of water. Infusing water with cold brew teas, citrus fruits, or even vegetables is one answer. There are also lots of different types of water enhancers on the market that can make water more palatable for your senior. Some contain ingredients that people can be sensitive to, however, so read the labels if you’re using store-bought water enhancers.
Work on Routines for Hydration
Routines are a huge help any time you are helping your senior adopt a new habit. Elder care professionals can do a lot to help your senior to work out routines that keep her hydrating and then stick to those routines. If the routines aren’t helping at first, caregivers can help your senior to adjust them until they do fit her needs.
Hydration is essential for every aspect of health, but it can be difficult for anyone to remember to drink water. Looking at a variety of ways to keep your senior’s water intake up can help her to stay healthy and can keep her feeling great, too.
If you or an aging loved one are considering elder care in Merkel, TX, please contact the caring staff at Clear Path Home Care today. Call 325-244-0877
Clear Path Home Care provides compassionate, high quality home care in Childress County, Cottle County, King County, Stonewall County, Fisher County, Nolan County, Hardeman County, Foard County, Knox County, Haskell County, Jones County and Taylor County in Texas.
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